The state House of Representatives, after two hours of intense debate, voted 55-43 on Wednesday to make Washington the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.

The legislation passed the State Senate last week, and goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire who has promised to sign it into law. Opponents have vowed to collect 120,577 valid voter signatures required to force a referendum in this November’s general election.

“Separate by name and act is not equal,” said Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, one of the few Republicans to vote for marriage equality.

Anderson spoke of his brother, who is gay, and argued that the state’s domestic partnership law does not convey the full societal benefits and recognition of legal civil marriage.

Opposing marriage equality, Anderson’s GOP seatmate in the 5th District, Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend, argued: As it is today, there is coequal treatment under the law of domestic partnership and marriage.”

But Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge, said he was urged by his pastor to vote for marriage equality, quoting C.S. Lewis on the difference between civil and religious marriage, and adding: “We have a lot of gay brothers and sisters in church, you know.” (Hansen’s mother is a minister.)